In the wake of Charlottesville, USC's equine mascot Traveler is under scrutiny

by By Nathan Fenno, Los Angeles TimesAug 18, 20173 minutes

LOS ANGELES _ When Richard Saukko galloped his chalk-white Arabian horse named Traveler around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum almost 56 years ago, it was supposed to be a one-time stunt.

Instead, the brief performance before USC kicked off its season against Georgia Tech turned into one of college football's iconic traditions. A succession of white horses named Traveler have followed _ Traveler IX debuts this fall _ trotting out of the tunnel as "Conquest" plays